Alexandra Shipp to play R&B singer Aaliyah in film

The Associated Press

Posted:
07/18/2014 12:36:42 PM MDT

Click photo to enlarge

FILE - This Nov. 25, 2012 file photo shows Alexandra Shipp at the British Academy Children's Awards in London. Shipp has very little time to get ready for her new role as the late R&amp;B singer Aaliyah. Lifetime spokeswoman Kannie Yu LaPack confirmed Friday, July 18, 2014, that Shipp will play the singer, who died in a plane crash in 2001. Shipp replaces Zendaya in the Lifetime biopic "Aaliyah: Princess of R&amp;B." Zendaya pulled out of production last month. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Alexandra Shipp has very little time to get ready for her new role as the late R&B singer Aaliyah.

Lifetime spokeswoman Kannie Yu LaPack confirmed Friday that Shipp will play the singer, who died in a plane crash in 2001. Shipp replaces Zendaya in the Lifetime biopic "Aaliyah: Princess of R&B." Zendaya pulled out of production last month.

The project was briefly halted, but filming will start later this month, leaving the 23-year-old Shipp little time to prep. She has played roles on Nick show "House of Anubis" and the movie "Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel."

The biopic will be released this fall and will follow the multiplatinum-selling R&B star's career from 10-year-old "Star Search" contestant to her death in a plane crash in the Bahamas at age 22.